Sunflowers and Yellow and Red Roses With Baby's Breath

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See how to make a cheerful roses and sunflower bouquet! Get the best tips for purchasing fresh flowers and how to design a gorgeous sunflower rose bouquet. Sunflowers and roses are a unique and beautiful flower combo fit for celebrations, weddings, and autumnal home decor.

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

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Sunflower rose bouquet

Do you love sunflowers as much as I? Their sunny and radiant appearance just makes me happy. Sunflowers come with the arrival of summer and last into fall. Today, I'm paring them with another flower love of mine, roses. I really love how the rustic sunflowers stand out against the elegant roses.

A homemade sunflower bouquet with roses makes for beautiful seasonal home decor. It'll look gorgeous on a fall tablescape and makes a great conversation piece. The sunflower rose bouquet would also be perfect for a fall wedding, bridal shower, baby shower, or birthday and anniversary celebration.

Do roses and sunflowers go together?

Yes, roses and sunflowers look beautiful together, and you can create stunning bouquets, wreaths, and floral arrangements with sunflowers and roses.

The different flower shapes create a lot of contrast and texture. Roses have a closed form with large, rounded petals. Sunflowers feature a large, seeded center surrounded by small, ray-like petals.

Roses and sunflowers are two dominant and strong-willed focal flowers. Focal flowers are the largest flowers in a bouquet and only have a single stem. They tend to be relatively static and show no movement.

The trick to creating a harmonious bouquet is to pair them with greenery that is playful and lightweight. I opted for hypericum because the plant adds intrigue and doesn't remove emphasis from the focal flowers.

Materials for rose and sunflower bouquet

You'll need just 3 types of plants to create this beautiful flower arrangement:

Sunflowers: For this rose and sunflower bouquet, skip the giant sunflowers, but get small-headed sunflowers. When buying sunflowers at a grocery or flower shop, check that the stems are intact and strong. Sunflowers with soft, rotting stems are past their prime and won't last very long.
Roses: I used a mix of yellow and red roses to compliment the sunflowers. I'll discuss options for other sunflower rose combos further down.
Hypericum: I used red hypericum as foliage and in lieu of filler flowers. The leaves and ruby red berries introduce movement and blend the roses and sunflowers together.

Where can I buy fresh sunflowers and roses?

You can purchase sunflowers and roses from your local florist or in the flower department of some supermarkets and grocery stores. Trader Joe's offers sunflowers for around 6 bucks.

You may also have sunflower fields in your area where you can cut your own sunflowers to take home. Check if you need to bring your own cutting tools. Sunflowers have thick, sturdy stems, and you need garden shears or a serrated knife to cut them.

When are sunflowers available?

Sunflowers usually bloom from June to October or until the first frost as they can't stand the cold.

When are roses and hypericum available?

Roses are available year-round and are relatively easy to source. A dozen roses cost just 6.99 at Trader Joe's, which is an absolute steal. Hypericum is also easy to find all year long.

Tools

I recommend you have the following equipment ready:

Garden sheers to cut and shorten the stems.
Twine to secure the bouquet so that the flowers don't come loose.
Vase: You need a large, sturdy vase or decorative bucket to display and keep the roses and sunflower bouquet. The sunflower rose bouquet looks best when the flower heads are only slightly above the rim of the vase.

how to make a rose and sunflower bouquet

How to make a sunflower rose bouquet

Let me walk you step-by-step through how to make a roses and sunflower bouquet:

Step 1: Rest flowers (optional)

Right after bringing your flowers home, fill a big bucket with cold fresh water and flower food. Let the flowers rest and rehydrate for 1 to 2 hours. This step is optional, and you can skip if you're short on time.

Step 2: Prep flowers

Remove all leaves from the sunflowers and rose stems that will be under the waterline in the vase. Foliage rots in water and builds bacteria that will shorten the life of the flowers.
If necessary, dethrone the roses and remove any brown leaves from the hypericum.
Cut the stems to approximately 12 in / 30 cm. Shorter stems are easier to handle.

Step 3: Create the center

To build the center of the floral bouquet, gather 2 sunflowers and 3 roses. Hold them tightly together and keep the sunflower heads slightly above the roses.

Step 4: Build the bouquet

Add the next row of flowers around the center using 3 sunflowers, 4 roses, and 2 small hypericum branches. Add each stem at an angle working in a circle around the center. This is a good size for a small bridal bouquet or bridesmaids' bouquets.

Step 5: Add more flowers

Continue building the bouquet by adding the remaining sunflowers and roses, creating a round, domed shape.

Step 6: Add greenery

Fill in the edges of the bouquet with hypericum.

Step 7: Secure the bouquet

Wrap a piece of twine a few times around the stems. Then lay the bouquet down and tie the twine tightly together to secure the bouquet.

Step 8: Finishing touches

Shorten stems the stems to a length that is appropriate for the vase of your choice.
Cut each stem at a 45-degree angle. Cutting the stems at an angle improves the water uptake of the flowers.
Place the bouquet in the vase and enjoy!

Tips for a beautiful sunflower bouquet with roses

Bundle the flowers in groups. As you can see in the photos, I arranged the roses and sunflowers in small groups. Grouping the flowers creates a fascinating rhythm in the sunflower floral arrangement and increases the visual appeal.
Arrange asymmetrically. Instead of creating a perfectly symmetrical bouquet (which can look quite boring), I went for an informal, asymmetrical look that generates rhythm and flow.
Elevate the sunflowers. I placed the sunflowers slightly above the roses to highlight them. In contrast, the roses are nestled in the bouquet to create fullness.

Sunflower rose bouquet variations

The beauty of this easy rose and sunflower bouquet is that you can mix and match different colors of roses and hypericum with sunflowers. Mixing up the roses is so much fun! Red, pink, white, yellow roses – you have so many options. And for the hypericum, feel free to swap white or pink hypericum for the red one.

Here are few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Red roses: Yellow sunflowers and red roses contrast beautifully and symbolize love and happiness. This combination is an excellent choice for a wedding and or as a gift bouquet for Mom. White baby's breath would make a lovely substitute for hypericum here.
Yellow roses: Double up the sunshine with a bouquet of sunflowers and yellow roses. When opting for yellow-on-yellow flowers, be sure to pick roses that have another shade of yellow than your sunflowers. Otherwise, the bouquet might look a bit dull. This is a great style to give to a dear friend.
White roses: Timeless white roses and golden sunflowers look elegant and sophisticated. A sunflower and white rose bouquet is a wonderful gift for anniversaries and retirement send-offs.
Pink roses: Yellow and pink isn't a combination you see very often, but this combination is playful and cute. Pair a pink sunflower bouquet with pink hypericum or small pink flowers, like astilbe or hydrangea. A lovely choice for weddings!

Sunflower and rose wedding bouquet

Sunflowers and roses have become a sought-after choice among late summer and autumn brides. Sunflowers look very festive, and romantic roses have always been a popular wedding flower. And luckily, it's pretty easy to create your own sunflower and rose bridal bouquet.

As I've mentioned, you want to keep a hand-held bridal bouquet smaller than a regular display bouquet.
Once you have assembled the bouquet, secure it with a piece of twine right under the flower heads.
To create a handle, gather the stems at the bottom of the bouquet and bind them together with a second piece of twine. This step is optional. Some brides prefer a neat handle, while others don't mind open stems.
Add a decorative ribbon, and you're done!
You can arrange the sunflower wedding bouquet the day before the wedding and keep it well hydrated overnight.

What do sunflowers and roses mean?

Sunflower meanings

The meaning of sunflowers varies across different cultures, all of which are positive and uplifting.

In Europe, sunflowers symbolize loyalty and adoration. This interpretation is rooted in ancient Greek mythology, the myth of Clytie and Apollo.
In China, sunflowers represent good fortune, vitality, and lasting happiness.
Native American cultures saw sunflowers as symbols of harvest and bounty.
The sunflower's yellow color symbolizes vitality, happiness, and friendship.
Sunflowers are also signs of faithfulness, worship, and spiritual knowledge because of their sun-like appearance.

Rose meanings

The meaning of roses depends on the color. Here's a quick overview:

Red roses represent love and romance.
Pink roses express gratitude and admiration.
Yellow roses symbolize happiness and friendship.
White roses portray grace and innocence.
Green roses symbolize nature and rejuvenation.

What does a bouquet of sunflowers and roses mean?

Who do you want to make happy? A charming sunflower bouquet is fit for many occasions. By giving someone a bouquet of roses and sunflowers, you can express:

Appreciation: Gifting a homemade flower bouquet is a lovely way to show appreciation for someone special in your life.
Gratitude: A DIY flower bouquet is a thoughtful and personal way to say thank you and makes a happy birthday sunflower bouquet.
Friendship: A sunflower bouquet is a wonderful expression of friendship and celebrates the bond and love you share with a good friend.
Happiness: Sunflowers exude cheer and happiness and are perfect to uplift someone's mood and spirit.
Love: The sunflower rose combo can also be a sign of love. This love doesn't have to be romantic; it can encompass the love you have for your children, parents, or friends.

Rose sunflower bouquet FAQ

How much does a sunflower bouquet cost?

The cost for the materials is around 12 to 20 dollars. Flowers at a florist are usually a bit pricier than the supermarket, but the quality is often better.

The costs of making your own red roses and sunflower bouquet are still very affordable compared to the money you'd have to shell out when ordering a roses and sunflower bouquet online.

Does a sunflower bouquet make the house smell good?

Sadly, no. Sunflowers only have a faint honey smell, and most commercial roses are pretty much scentless. The only way to make a fragrant sunflowers and roses bouquet would be to incorporate heritage garden roses (English roses, cabbage rose) that have a scent.

How do you dry a sunflower rose bouquet?

To dry your rose sunflower bouquet, take it out of the water after 2 to 3 days before the flowers start to wilt. Hang it upside down in a dry, dark place. It'll take serval weeks for the flowers to dry out completely.

A little warning, though. While roses dry nicely, dried sunflowers aren't the prettiest sight. Some will turn out well, but some become brown and brittle. Let me know how it goes if you attempt to dry your DIY bouquet.

Tips for sunflower care

Follow these tips to care for the flowers and ensure your rose and sunflower bouquet has a long vase life:

Water: Replace the water in the vase with fresh, cool water every other day. Sunflowers are quite thirsty so top up the water regularly.
Location: Flowers wilt faster in the sun. For best vase life, try to find a place that isn't exposed to direct sunlight. Sunflowers last best in moderate temperatures that aren't too cold or hot.
Plant food: Cut flowers thrive longer if you add flower food to the vase water.

How long does this sunflower rose bouquet last?

Fresh sunflowers and roses will usually last for a good week and up to 10 days before they start to wither.

Prep Time 40 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Difficulty easy

Materials

12 small-headed sunflowers
10 yellow roses
10 red roses
7 hypericum stems

Instructions

Rest flowers (optional). Right after bringing your flowers home, fill a big bucket with cold fresh water and flower food. Let the flowers rest and rehydrate for 1 to 2 hours. This step is optional, and you can skip if you're short on time.
Prep flowers. Remove all leaves from the sunflowers and rose stems that will be under the waterline in the vase. Foliage rots in water and builds bacteria that will shorten the life of the flowers. If necessary, dethrone the roses and remove any brown leaves from the hypericum. Cut the stems to approximately 12 in / 30 cm. Shorter stems are easier to handle.
Create the center. To build the center of the floral bouquet, gather 2 sunflowers and 3 roses. Hold them tightly together and keep the sunflower heads slightly above the roses.
Build the bouquet. Add the next row of flowers around the center using 3 sunflowers, 4 roses, and 2 small hypericum branches. Add each stem at an angle working in a circle around the center. This is a good size for a small bridal bouquet or bridesmaids' bouquets.
Add more flowers. Continue building the bouquet by adding the remaining sunflowers and roses, creating a round, domed shape.
Add greenery. Fill in the edges of the bouquet with hypericum.
Secure the bouquet. Wrap a piece of twine a few times around the stems. Then lay the bouquet down and tie the twine tightly together to secure the bouquet.
Finishing touches. Shorten stems the stems to a length that is appropriate for the vase of your choice. Cut each stem at a 45-degree angle. Cutting the stems at an angle improves the water uptake of the flowers. Place the bouquet in the vase and enjoy!

Sunflowers and Yellow and Red Roses With Baby's Breath

Source: https://www.countryhillcottage.com/rose-and-sunflower-bouquet/